LCR selects Stagecoach and Go-Ahead

LCR selects Stagecoach and Go-Ahead

Stagecoach has been selected to operate the franchised bus network based in St Helens while Go-Ahead will operates services in Wirral   Mayor Steve Rotheram: buses aren’t a ‘nice to have’ – they’re a lifeline   Stagecoach and Go-Ahead Group have been selected as the first operators to run the...
Public transport’s ‘global family gathering’

Public transport’s ‘global family gathering’

Dubai will host the UITP Summit on April 21-23. We spoke to UITP’s secretary general, Mohamed Mezghani, about the event and what visitors can look forward to   Mohamed Mezghani: “For me, the Summit is about people”   Mohamed, the UITP Summit is heading to Dubai in April, less than...
Out now: The latest issue of Passenger Transport

Out now: The latest issue of Passenger Transport

What’s inside the latest edition of Passenger Transport:     LEAD STORY NPR rail improvements ‘will actually happen’ More than a decade after the Northern Powerhouse Rail project was first proposed, the government has unveiled a three-phase plan for its delivery   NEWS Cornwall probes bus regulation options Market engagement...
NPR rail improvements  ‘will actually happen’

NPR rail improvements ‘will actually happen’

More than a decade after the Northern Powerhouse Rail project was first proposed, the government has unveiled a three-phase plan for its delivery   The plans would see Manchester Piccadilly expanded   A three-phase plan for the long-promised Northern Powerhouse Rail project was unveiled by the government this week. The...
100 more bus routes in Wales and £2 fare cap?

100 more bus routes in Wales and £2 fare cap?

Labour has pledged an enhanced bus offer for Wales if it wins this May’s Senedd election, but will this be matched funding? Rhodri Clark reports   Welsh bus fares for adults aged 22 to 59 would be capped at £2   Labour has pledged 100 more bus routes in Wales...
Let’s get on and fix rail replacement

Let’s get on and fix rail replacement

  A new report by CMAC has shed light on an often overlooked but frequent aspect of the railway’s customer service proposition   2026 has already brought two major shocks. FA Cup holders, my beloved, Crystal Palace, being knocked out of this year’s tournament by non-league Macclesfield, 117 places below...
Putting customers front and centre

Putting customers front and centre

  Those taking decisions should always put themselves in the shoes of the passenger and ask whether what they will think reasonable   Average bus speeds in central London are now down to 7.4mph (picture: Shutterstock)   It was interesting to see the latest figures for bus passenger numbers (PT351)....
Latest entries
Scheduler of the Year Award returns for 2021

Scheduler of the Year Award returns for 2021

The Joe Wood Scheduler of the Year, sponsored by CitySwift, will again raise awareness of the profession and its importance to buses   Richard Sherratt: Joe Wood Scheduler of the Year 2020   The Covid crisis has challenged the capabilities of all bus company employees – not least the schedulers. Many regarded them as unsung...
Bus and Coach Awards are open for entries

Bus and Coach Awards are open for entries

The UK Bus Awards and UK Coach Awards will go ahead this year with a joint video presentation on November 16. Nominations are welcome   Bus services were vital to key workers during the pandemic   Prior to Covid-19 the UK Bus Awards had held an awards ceremony in London for 24 consecutive years –...
Railway urged to share data on Covid risks

Railway urged to share data on Covid risks

London TravelWatch wants RSSB to publish data that predicts potential deaths from Covid caught on trains, but safety body insists that ‘risk is low’     London TravelWatch is urging the rail industry to release its data on the risks of catching Covid on trains. The watchdog says it is “irresponsible” to launch a campaign...
Rising confidence for patronage recovery

Rising confidence for patronage recovery

Rail and bus operators have expressed a growing confidence for the future of the sector as rail minister says he believes passenger numbers will rebound   LNER has seen patronage bounce back to 94% over the last three weeks   There is a growing sense of optimism across the public transport sector following the easing...
Be like Rotterdam and ‘make it happen’

Be like Rotterdam and ‘make it happen’

  The planet is in danger. The trouble is that all too often targets and declarations can become ‘sign and forget’ – we need to act now   Rotterdam Centraal station   “The frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation events have increased since the 1950s over most land area for which observational data are sufficient...
We want to truly transform rail travel

We want to truly transform rail travel

With commuting patterns probably changed forever, many more train journeys now involve an active choice. We need to adapt – wrtes LNER boss David Horne   David Horne   Data released earlier this month by the Department for Transport shows that use of the National Rail network in Great Britain is back up to 55%...
Public transport sector braced for ‘pingdemic’

Public transport sector braced for ‘pingdemic’

Hull-based East Yorkshire was already seeing up to eight bus drivers a day ‘pinged’ by the NHS Test and Trace App ahead of ‘Freedom Day’ on July 19     Bus and train operators across the country are bracing themselves for the impact of the ‘pingdemic’ as coronavirus cases soar and their staff are ‘pinged’...
Go-Ahead names new group chief executive

Go-Ahead names new group chief executive

Christian Schreyer will take the helm on November 5   Christian Schreyer, 53, a German national, has been working for Transdev   Go-Ahead Group has this morning announced the appointment of Christian Schreyer as group chief executive with effect from the conclusion of the group’s Annual General Meeting on November 5. He will join the...
Jam tomorrow - we need a plan for 2021

Jam tomorrow – we need a plan for 2021

  In many ways the Transport Decarbonisation Plan is ambitious – but promises for 2050 are easier to make than immediate actions   Huw Merriman, chair of the Transport Select Committee, pictured in May at the launch of a campaign to get more people back on public transport. Let us see some ministers visibly on...
Bus operators make most of ‘Freedom Day’

Bus operators make most of ‘Freedom Day’

National Express West Midlands, Go North West and Brighton & Hove are among those seeking to entice users back with offers and promotions   Left to right: West Midlands mayor Andy Street; NXWM master driver Rekha Sehdeva; NXWM boss David Bradford   Bus operators in England sought to capitalise on the removal of remaining Covid...
‘Face mask confusion will discourage travel’

‘Face mask confusion will discourage travel’

CPT warns that ‘mixed messaging’ will stall the recovery as polls suggest that public want face coverings to remain mandatory on public transport   Polls show support for face masks   The ability of public transport to play a full role in the country’s recovery from the pandemic is being put at risk by the...
Brown: ‘Embrace it, be collegiate, be positive’

Brown: ‘Embrace it, be collegiate, be positive’

Go-Ahead Group chief executive David Brown urges audience of young bus managers to use the bus strategy as an opportunity for positive change   David Brown will retire as Go-Ahead Group chief executive at the end of this year after more than 10 years in the role   Go-Ahead Group boss David Brown has urged...